Dee and Jimmy Haslam have always been proud University of Tennessee alumni. On Thursday, they showed exactly how proud they were with a check that broke every record in the school's history.

The Haslams donated $130 million to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. It is the largest gift in the university's history. The bulk of it, $100 million, goes directly to the Haslam College of Business.

"We are honored to make this investment in UT and the Haslam College of Business," Dee and Jimmy Haslam said, per the Columbus Dispatch.

The Haslams have a goal in mind with this donation, and they are hoping this will help the cause.

"The university is experiencing extraordinary momentum, and we are proud to help elevate its national reputation, attract world-class faculty and support the next generation of leaders, all while keeping the best and brightest here in Tennessee."

Jimmy Haslam is the majority owner of the Cleveland Browns and the Columbus Crew. The Haslam Sports Group is also paying a $205 million expansion fee to bring a National Women's Soccer League team to Columbus.

This donation puts the Haslams in a different category entirely. No one has given this much to Tennessee in a single gift. The business college already had its name on it. That part was not new. This just made it mean something different.

Tennessee made the College Football Playoff in 2024. First time the program had ever gotten there. The Haslams watched all of that happen and decided now was the time to go all in.

The Haslams Have Been Making Moves on Multiple Fronts

The $130 million gift is not the only big number attached to the Haslam name right now. Their sports group is bringing an NWSL expansion team to Columbus with a $205 million expansion fee already paid.

Columbus City Council and Franklin County both pledged $25 million each in public funds for a new training facility at McCoy Park and upgrades to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Not everyone was on board with that decision though. Several council members who voted against the deal argued that billionaires did not need public money or a public park.

The Haslams have committed $3 million toward a replacement for McCoy Park as part of the agreement. Between the Tennessee donation and the Columbus investment, the Haslams are having a genuinely busy 2026.

What do you think about the Haslams' $130 million donation to Tennessee? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi